The visitors made most of the early running and their pressure brought a converted penalty. Ashton then got into the game with good set pieces.

Some very quick handling among forwards O’Driscoll, Billinge and Morrison brought off a breathtaking move which led to them levelling the scores.

Hoylake had a dreadful restart from which Ashton immediately took possession to build a maul on the visitors five-yard line, from where Dan O’Driscoll crashed through a packed Hoylake defence to put Ashton ahead.

The home side continued the pressure until half time but were unable to score from a number of convertible penalties – and this was to cost them dearly.

In the second half the home team couldn’t bring their superior fitness to bear, were less organised and started to lose a few of their own set pieces. This was quickly reflected in the scoreline as the visitors racked up two tries in close order.

Ashton fought back in the last quarter and Scott Hayes came close with a defencebeating run that left the ball grounded just six inches short of the Hoylake try line.

Ashton spurned a few more late chances and a relieved Hoylake took away the winning points.